Fabric cleansing machine



June 7, 1938. J. B. KIRBY FABRIC CLIEANSINGA MACHINE Filed May 4, 1931 3 Shee'S-Sheei'l l James t Ri-"b5 l 1 1 llll I llllllllllllllllllllllllllll l l""^1lv JINVLNTOR A T-roQN-Ej June 7, 1938. .1. B. KIRBY FABRIC CLEANSING MACHINE vFiled May 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 James Bv .June 7, 1938. J. B. KIRBY 2,119,918

FABRIC CLEANSING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ O James B`Ir5 l N mcq NLJ Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FABRIC CLEAN SIN G MACHINE Application May 4, 1931, Serial No. 534,718

16 Claims.

This invention relates to fabric cleansing machines by which term I intend to include both laundry machines and dry cleaning apparatus, and to include both washing and centrifugalextracting apparatus, regardless whether the machine combines the two functions or is restricted to one only thereof. Among the objects of the invention are the provision of a simple and compact device whereby clothing or other fabrics can be washed or dry-cleaned quickly, rapidly, and conveniently and the excess liquid removed centrifugally, all without putting the hands in the liquid; the provision of an improved machine of this character particularly devised for small size, low price, and rapid production; the pro-I vision of an improved and simplified driving mechanism; the provision of new land simplified means for attaching the casing to the base and mechanism in such wise as to produce a tight joint without straining; the provision of a new and improved arrangement of parts for drycleaning; the provision of a combined cleaning and extracting machine having new and improved facilities for eliminating both grit and scum; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this speciiication I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention although it will be understood that these drawings are merely illustrative and not limiting. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a complete washing and extracting machine containing my improvements with the parts in extracting positions; Fig. 2 is a View of the same machine partly in elevation and partly in section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to the line 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sec-` tional view corresponding to the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views of the gearing shown in Fig. 1 showing the parts first in extracting position as in Fig. 1 and second in washing position as in Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the preferred joint between the tub bottom and bearing sleeve; Fig. 8 illustrates the same machine having a modied form of container therein; and Fig. 9 illustrates one mode of using the machine shown 'in Fig. s.

My improved machine comprises a liquid holding casing I which is made preferably of enamelled steel, though copper or aluminum can of course be used, and a base part 2 also preferably made as an enamelled steel stamping though generally of heavier gauge than the casing. The casing I has an upright side-wall, circular in horizontal section and having a bottom portion which is preferably bulged upwardly and frustroconically shaped as shown at 3 and formed at its center with a iiat circular part 4 centrally apertured as indicated at 5. Between the elevated portion 3 and the side-wall portionan annular at bottom region 6 is provided to rest upon the base and to define internally an annular trough adapted to catch buttons, nails, and other accidental hard objects.

The base is formed with a fiat annular portion 'I matching the portion 6 and is preferably formed inside this portion with a slightly elevated portion 8 also terminating in a flat circular portion 9 centrally apertured at I 0 for the operating mechanism. Outside the portion 'I the base is formed with a depending skirt or housing II to conceal the mechanism. In the present embodiment a pressed sheet-metal bottom-member I2 is inserted into this base to complete the enclosure of the mechanism and to this bottommember are secured feet I3 of soft rubber, preferably hollow as shown at I4 and having a corrugated wall I5, the former exhibiting a suctioncup action on the supporting surface, and the latter affording increased exibility and sound insulation.

The casing and base are secured by any suit- Y able form of fastenings engaging the portions 6 and 1 thereof, these in the present embodiment comprising bolts I6 traversing these portions and supplied with nuts I1 and leak-proof rubber washers I8.

Rigidly secured to the base is an upright hollow sleeve 20 which traversesthe -aperture 5 and rises into the casing I, and to provide a leak-proof joint at this pointvwhile at the same time avoiding any such strain upon the metaly bottom as shall distort the parts and crack the enamel, I employ a clamp joint,v one form of which is shown in Fig. 7. Projecting through the aperture 5 is the externally threaded body 2l` of a coupling spud having `at one end a flange 22 overlapping the portion 4 and at the other` end a nut 23 screwed on the spud, with packing washers 24 on opposite sides of the portion-4. The interior of this assemblage isl hollowed out at its upper part to form a cavity in which is received a scft packing 25 clamped against the exterior of the sleeve 20 by means of the threaded gland-nut 26, thus renabling the casingto be applied andthe joint to be tightened at the very end of the assembling operation, after the entire mechanism has been put together and tested. and this Without imposing any such strain on the enamelled metal as might, in the course of time and vibration, lead to cracking of the enamel.

The sleeve 25 is rigidly secured to the base, as by having its lower end provided with a flange 35 and applied to the upper surface of the portion 9 concentrically with the aperture |5, be-V ing bolted through `the sheet-metal to the upper part 3| of the gear-casing whose lower part 32 constitutes a. kind of box. The portion 3| is formed with a vertical bearing-sleeve 33 having an enlarged upper end 34 whichV fits into the chambered lower end 35 of the sleeve 25 so as to hold the parts in line. Rotatably journaled inside the sleeve 33 is the elongated hub 35 having at its lower end the toothed clutch-head 31l and having at its upper end a supporting washer 35 held in place in any suitable manner as by the snap ring 35; Journaled inside this hub member is the vertical shaft 45 to which is rigidly secured below this clutch-head a companion clutch-head 4| formed with complementary teeth at its upper end and a tapering portion 42 depending therefrom. The lower end of the shaft 45 is shown as reduced in size as at 43 (though this is immaterial), and projecting through the bottom face of the gear box 32 into another housing 44 in which is a cam 45 mounted on a horizontal cam-shaft 45 whose outer end projects through the front wall of the base 2 and is provided with an operating handle 41. 'I'he lower end of the extension 43 may well be provided with an antifriction ball 48 inset in a socket and adapted to engage the cam 45 in rolling relation since this engagement will some times occur when the shaft is rotating at considerable speed.

Journaled in the gear box 32 on a horizontal axis is a drive shaft 55 on which are mounted two spiral gears,5| and 52, generally of unequal pitch and here also of opposite inclination. One of these spiral gears meshes with a companion gear 53 journaled on a fixed stud 54 carried by the gear box at one side of and parallel to the shaft 45 and having an eccentric pin 55 connected by a pitman 55 with an arm 51 projecting from the clutch member 51. Loosely sleeved about the shaft extension 43 .is a spiral gear 55 meshing with the other spiral pinion 52 and itself hollowed out rto form a conical cavity 59 complementary to the conical portion 42 of ythe clutch element 4|.

' One extremity ofthe shaft 55 projects outside of th gear box where it is provided with a beltpulley 55 connected by a belt 5| with a driving pulley`52 carried by the shaft 53 of the electric motor 54. In the preferable form of the device this motor is secured to the exterior of the gear box' by means of a horizontal rod 55 parallel to the shafts 55 and 53 and engaging apertured ears 55 carried by the motor-frame and gearbox respectively, tension being maintained on the belt by means of a suitable spring 51 interposed between some part of the casing and some part of the motor-frame. The member 58 to which this spring is attached is preferably made of insulating material, and insulating washers and sleeves 59 being interposed between the shaft 55 and ears 55, the motor is entirely insulated from the rest of the mechanism, thisbeing especially important in view of the dry-cleaning work hereafter described.

The upper end of the sleeve 25 is provided with a bushing 15 in which is journaled the upper end of the shaft 45, the shaft being elsewhere loose within the sleeve 25 for convenience in manufacturing. Above the bushing 15 the shaft 45 terminates in a fiuted or prismatic portion 1I to which is applied the complementary shaped socket 12 formed at the upper end of a hollow vertical sleeve 13 which depends movably around the exterior of the sleeve 25, being, in this embodiment, provided at its lower end with a bushing 14 which engages the exterior of said sleeve 25 in steadying relation.

Carried by the lower end of this sleeve 13 isthe circular bottom 15 of the fabric-container, said bottom having an upper surfacewhich in its preferred form is deeply corrugated as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. 'I'he margin of said plate is defined by a circular depending flange 15 which extends to a lower level than the summit 4 of the elevation with which the casing-bottom is provided. Firmly secured to the exterior face of the flange 15 is the outer Wall 11 of the container, said wall defining a surface of revolution concentric with the shaft 45 and preferably also flaring towards the bottom to a greater diameter than at the top. 'I'he upper margin of this wall is rolled inwardly as shown at 18 to strengtheny and finish the same, and is also formed adjacent to its lower part and again adjacent to its upper part with liquid circulation apertures 19 and 55, respectively. I have also shown the flange 15 as interrupted by notches 9|, one at the bottom of each of the corrugations, the vbetter to assist the discharge of the liquid contents.

In addition I have shown the `sleeve 13 as provided with projections or blades 82 projecting radially therefrom, these in the present embodiment being three in number and projecting lsuf- Q ilciently close to the side wall to define a plurality of substantially separate compartments. Itvwill be understood that the corrugations of the bottom and the blades just described and comprising the agitator of the machine have iny part a complementary and in part a supplementary function so that either can be. omitted without entire loss of washing function. A removable cover 53 is provided for the top of the casing,

and a removable set screw 84 is shown for secury ing the container rigidly to the shaft 45.

For draining the machine any suitable device can be employed, that here illustrated consisting of a flexible hose havingone endattached to an outlet neck 55 secured to the bottom of the casing, its free end being held in elevated` position by a suitable clip 55 (see Fig. 3) whenever a discharge of liquid from the tub is to be prevented. 'I'he side of the base 2 is provided with a dial plate 59 concentric with the shaft 45 and containing suitable instructions relative to the position of the lever 41, which determines the mode of operation of the machine, being held in adjusted position by means of a spring-pressed button carried by the lever 'and engaging suitable sockets'9l formed in the plate. When this lever is turned to the left as shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 45 and its clutch member 4| are elevated as shown in Fig. 6 so as to cause the latter to engage the oscillating member 31. 'I'his results in a vigorous oscillation of the container and its oscillating movement by shifting the lever 41 tov the "oiT position, winch corresponds to ka location of the clutch-head 4| intermediate the two members with which it cooperates. As soon as the casing has been sufficiently emptied this lever may be moved to the dry position whereupon the container is rapidly rotated.

The sleeve 13 .taken with its bottom plate and such blades and/or corrugations as are employed may be looked upon as an agitator, and the Wall TI as a device for confining the fabrics to the top thereof and for preventing their working their way underneath the same as a result of the agi- ,tation of the liquid caused by the corrugated bottom of the bottom plate.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated the same casing as employed with a slightly different container as devised more particularly for dry-cleaning purposes. In this modification the sleeve 20 and shaft 40 appear as before, but the container comprises a double-walled receptacle carried by the sleeve 39a which surrounds the sleeve 20 and is attached to the shaft 40. The outer wall of this container has a circular, imperforate, bottomportion |00 and an upwardly-slanted, circular, imperforate, outer-wall I 0|; while the inner-wall comprises a perforated bottom-portion |02 spaced from and concentric with the portion |00, and a perforated-portion |03 spaced from the portion |0| and likewise coaxial with the shaft 40, but rising to a higher level than the wall |0|, and having its upper part curved inwardly as shown at |04 to prevent accidental escape of fabrics' while still leaving an adequate working opening |05. Suitable blades or vanes |06 are carried by the interior of the container, which in the present embodiment is vmade of such height as to leave space in the casing below the same suicient for the accommodation of the entire liquid contents of the container. 'Ihe same outlet hose 85 can be employed as heretofore described.

This arrangement is particularly devised for use with dry-cleaning iiuids which are sometimes toxic and sometimes inammable and always both volatile and expensive.. The fabrics to be cleansed are placed in the container and sucient of the dry-cleansing liquid is introduced therein, for example two gallons. The imperforate nature of the outer wall |0| prevents any substantial escape of the liquid even during the splashing consequent upon the oscillating movement, while permitting grit and sand to escape readily through the apertures of the Upon rotating this container rapidly is ejected over the top of the wall |0|, the major part of the grit and sand being left behindin the bottom wall. Even though the wall |0| be quite steep, the spacing of the wall |03 therefrom allows the ready escape of the liquid from the clothing. The cover 83 being now removed andthe garments taken out, the lcontainer can be removed and refilled with the dry-cleaning iuid as shown in Fig. 9, merely by placing the container in a sink while the casing stands on the sink board, after which a new charge of fabrics can be dry-c1eaned.

In the present embodiment the inner and outer inner vwall. the liquid walls oi' this container are made readily separable, the portions |02-I03 constitutlnga separate shell resting removably inside the outer shell, being spaced therefrom by suitable stops |09 and rotated therewith by suitable ngers |01. This enables the removal of the interior shell with the fabrics if desired, and also enables the removal of grit, sand and lint from the space between thev two, while a knob |08 formed at the upper end of the sleeve 39a enables the' entire container to be handled as a unit whenever desired.

While I have particularly devised this machine l to be made in small size for use as a supplemental washing machine and for operation with small quantities of dry-cleaning iiuid, it will beunderstood that I do not limit myself to any given sizes nor to any features of construction, arrangement, designer mode of operation herein described since all the features hereof can equally well be used on a larger machine, and I do not limit myself -to any of such details herein shown except as specifically recited in my several claims, which I desire may be construed broadly each independently of limitations contained in other claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a machine for cleansing fabric articles,--4

a casing for detergent liquid, a vertical shaft .journaled in .the bottom of said casing, driving mechanism beneath said casing for oscillating said shaft, a one piece agitator having a'socket for engaging said shaft, said agitator having blades extending outwardly from the socket thereof and also having a circular corrugated bottom plate, and a shell surrounding and attached to said agitator.

2. In a machine for cleansing and extracting fabric articles, in combination, a casing, a container mounted therein upon a vertical axis, said container having a circular corrugated bottom plate with upstanding vanes extending outwardly from the container axis and a downwardly and outwardly slanted perforated side wall defining a surface of revolution about said axis, at least a part of the perforations being located in the lower part lof said side wall and means fer selectively rotating and oscillatingsaid container about said axis. v

3. In a fabric cleansing machine, in combination, a casing for detergent liquid, a-container oscillating and rotating said container about said axis. 4. Inia fabric cleansing machine, in combination, a casing for detergent liquid, a container for fabrics mounted inside said casing upon a vertical axis, said container having a perforated side-wall flaring downwardly and outwardly from its top to its bottom and defining a surface of revolution about said axis, in combination with centrally located outwardly extending liquid agitating vanes mountedinside said container and fixed to move therewith and means 'comprising a single shaft for oscillating and rotating said container about saidy axis.

5. In a fabric vcleansing machine, a container mounted on a vertical axis and having a central sleeve and apertured side walls downwardly and outwardly flared and defining a surface of revolution aboutsaid axis which is smaller.at the top than at the bottom, agitator blades extending outwardly from said sleeve, a bottom plate connected to the bottom of said sleeve and sidewalls, and means for selectively oscillating and rotating said container about said axis, said side .walls having apertures at their levelof greatest diameter.

6. In a fabric cleansing and extracting machine, a casing for detergent liquid, a container for the fabrics located on a vertical axis inside said casing in a position to be partially'imrnersed in the liquid contents of said casing, a shaft journaled in the bottom of said casing coaxial with said container and adapted for attachment thereto, said container having a side wall formed as a surface of revolution about said 'axis and tapering inwardly towards its upper end, said container having a central sleeve with outwardly extending agitator elements fixed in place thereon and having its sidewall formed with liquid circulation apertures atvarious heights in such tapering portion, and means foralternatively rotating and oscillating said shaft.

7. In a fabric cleansing machine, a vertical shaft, a central sleeve secured to said shaft, a container for the fabrics carried by said sleeve and comprising tapered apertured side walls defining a surface of revolution coaxial with said shaft, agitator blades fixed in position on said sleeve and extending therefrom to a point adjacent to said side walls, means for alternatively `rotating and oscillating said shaft about a vertical axis, and a shell ,surrounding said side wall and spaced therefrom to define an annular liquid reservoir in which said side wall is at least partially immersed during the washing operation, said side wall having apertures therein substantially throughout its height.

8. In a fabric cleansing machine, in combination, a casing having its bottom higher at the center than at the sides, a container mounted insaid casing on a vertical axis having a circular bottom spaced above the casing bottom, the bottom of said container having a depending, circular, marginal flange which extends to a level below that of such elevated central portion, an upwardly extending apertured side wall carried by said circular bottom and defining a surface of revolution concentric with said axis, agitating members fixed inside said container and extending outwardly from the axis thereof and terminating short of said side wall, means for oscillating said container and with it said agitating members, and drainage provisions in the bottom of said casing at a point near the outer edge thereof.

9. In a fabric cleansing and extracting machine, a container having a circular bottom concentric to a vertical axis and having its center higher than its sides, and also having a sidewall defining a surface of revolution about the same axis and flaring downwardly and having liquid dischargeapertures where it meets said bottom, agitating means located inside said container and movable therewith, said agitating means comprising vanes extending outwardly from the center of said container, and mechanism for-alternatively rotating and oscillatin said container about said axis.

10. In a machine for cleansing and extracting fabric articles, in combination, a doublewalled container mounted on a vertical axis, the outer wall having an imperforate bottom and an imperforate upwardly slanted side dening a surface of revolution about said axis, and rthe innerl wall having perforations in its sides and bottom and spaced from said outer wall, means for selectively oscillating and rotating said container about its axis, and dasher means inside said inner wall for agitating the fabric and liquid during such oscillation. Y

1l. In a laundry machine, in combination. a support, a vertical sleeve xed on said support and rising therefrom, a casing having its bot'- tom resting o n said support, said bottom having an aperture therein through which said sleeve loosely projects, means for securing said casing to said support at a distance from said sleeve, and means carried by said casing bottom for preventing leakage between the same and said sleeve, said last means including a packing surrounding and frictionally engaging the sides of said sleeve and a gland-nut surrounding said packing, the exterior of said sleeve` being cylindrical throughout the region which traverses the casing bottom whereby slight relative axial movements between the apertured portion of said casing and said sleeve may take place to relieve the casing bottom of strains that might be set up by reason of thermal expansion or contraction occasioned by changes'in the temperature of the casing or its support or otherwise.

12. In a laundry machine, in combination, a support,'a vertical sleeve fixed on said support and rising therefrom, a casing having its bottom resting on said support, said bottom having an aperture therein through which said sleeve loosely projects, means for securing said casing tov said support at a distance from said sleeve, and a clamp-joint securing said casing bottom to said sleeve in leak-proof relation, said joint comprising a soft-packing surrounding said sleeve and two recessed, relatively movable nuts operatively threaded together 'and embracing said packing, one of said nuts being secured to the casing bottom, and said sleeve having acylindrical external surface at the place where it is engaged by said packing whereby slight relative axial movements between the apertured portion of said casing and said sleeve may take place to relieve the casing bottom of strains that might be set up by reason of thermal expansion or contraction occasioned by changes in the temperature of the casing or its support or otherwise.

13. In a laundry machine, in combination, a support, a vertical sleeve xed on said support and rising therefrom, a casing having its bottom resting on said support, said bottom having an aperture therein through which said sleeve projects, means for securing said casing to said support at a distance from said sleeve, a threaded metal element loosely surrounding said sleeve and having a flange portion tightly clamped to the bottom of said casing adjacent tosaid aperture, said element having a recess adjacent to said sleeve and a threaded portion coaxial with said sleeve, a gland-nut surrounding said sleeve vand engaging said threaded portion and soft packing in said recess between said element and said gland-nut, frictionally engaging the sides of said sleeve whereby slight relative axial movements between'the apertured portion of said casing and place to relievethe casing said sleeve may take bottom or strains that might be set up by reason of thermal expansion or contraction occasioned by changes in the temperature of the casing or its support or otherwise.

14. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing having an aperture in its bottom, a support for said casing, an upright member immovably ilxed with respect to said support and projecting loosely through the aperture of said casing, means i'or securing said casing to said support, and a sealing member detachably secured to the casing bottom and irictionally engaging the sides vonly oi' said upright member in leak-proof relation at the place where it traverses the aperture in the bottom of said casing.

15. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding caslng having an aperture in its bottom, a support for said casing, an upright member immovably zo xed with respect to said support and proJecting loosely through the aperture ai?.` said casing. means for securing said casing to said support, and a sealing member carried solely by the bottom of said casing frictionallyengaging the sides only oi' said upright member in leak-proof relation at' the place where it traverses the ,aperture in the bottom ot said casing.

16. In a laundry machine, a liquid holding casing having an aperture in its bottom, a support i'or said casing. an upright member im' movably xed with respect to said support and projecting loosely through the aperture oi said casing, means for securing said casing to said support, and a seal carried by the bottom of said casing comprising a gland nut and associated packing means frictionally engaging the sides only or said upright member in leak-proof relation at the place wheredt traverses the aperture in the bottom of said casing.

JAMES B. may. o 

